Self-waiting table



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1. W. D. VIA & M. V. STBDMAN.

SELF WAITING' TABLE.

ANDREW B GRAHAM.PHOTO-UTHQWASNINGTUNC (NoModel.)

` 2 She'fets-Sheet 2.. W. D. VIA. 8v M. V. STEDMAN.

SELF WAITING TABLE. v

'Patentd Apr. 14, 1896.

" C ANDREW LGFMMM.PHQTO-UTHJWASHINGTDNYRC. w

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM D. VIA AND MALVERN V. STEDMAN, OF STUART, VIRGINIA., ASSIGNORS'OF TI-IREE-FOURTI-IS TO VILLIAM K. VIA AND IVOODSON R. CUMMINGS, OF CRITZ, VIRGINIA.

str F-WAiTirieTABLE.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 558,128, dated April 14, 1896. Application filed February 27, 1895. Serial No. 539,897. (No model.)

States, residing at Stuart, in the county of' Patrick and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Self-l/Vaiting Table, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in self-waiting tables.

VThe object of the present invention is to improve the construction of self-waiting tables and to provide a simple and inexpensive one, which may be readily taken apart and quickly assembled when desired.

Another object of the invention is to irnprove the construction of that class of self- Waiting tables which provide a compartment for the storage ofdishes and similar articles, and to provide simple and effective means for elevating the upper portion of the table, to permit the same to revolve freely.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a selfwaitin g table constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizont-al sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. et is a reverse plan view of the intermediate disk-section. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the top disk-section. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the connecting-plates for attaching the legs to the side pieces. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of a leg and a por tion of one of the side pieces. Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating a modification of the table-top and showing the same composed of different forms of leaves from those shown in the preceding iigures.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a table -top composed of straight leaves 2 and 3 and detachably connected to side rails il by vertical dowel-pins 5 and hooks and eyes (i and 7, the hooks being mounted on the. inner faces of the sido pieces 4; and engaging detachably the eyes which depend from the table-top 1. Instead ofconstructing the table -top of straight leaves, a table-top such as is shown in Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings may be employed. This table-top is provided with an annular series ofsubstantially segmental leaves 2, connected bydowel-pins or the like and hooks and'eyes, and arranged around a central polygonal leaf 2b, preferably formed with six sides and connected by hooks and eyes and dowel-pins with the-other leaves.

Each side piece 4 is provided at its ends with connecting-plates 8,1nouuted in slots of the side pieces and provided with hooks 9, arranged in corresponding slots 10 of legs 11 and engaging pins 12 'or other suitable fastening devices. These hooks 9 are formed integral with the plate, and the legs are detachably secured to the table-top by them.

The inner or intermediate leaves of the table-top are connected by horizontal dowelpins 13 and hooks and eyes 14, and the outer leaves 2 are hinged to the adjacent leaves and are adapted to drop, and are maintained in a horizontal position for use by pivot-ed braces 15.

The' table-top is provided with a central circular opening, in which is mounted a vertical shaft 16, carrying horizontal bars 17 for supporting a disk-section 18 and provided with a polygonal shoulder 20, formed by reducing the Atop portion 21 of the sha-ft, .and arranged to support a top disk-section 22; but it will be readily apparent that any number of disk-sections maybe employed to provide a self-waiting table of the desired capacity. The disk-sections 18 and 22 are composed of leaves connected by dowel-pins 23 and hooks and eyes 24, whereby the leaves are readily assembled or taken apart for storing or transportation.

On the upper end or portion 2l of the shaft is mounted an ornamental cap-section 25, carrying fan-supporting arms 26, and forming between the same a lamp-support 28 and provided with springs 29, adapted to engage the base of a lamp for holding the same in position and to avoid any liability of the lamp upsetting.

IOO

The intermediate disk section orsupport 18 is located a sufficient distance above the tabletop to provide an intervening space, which is closed in by curved doors 30 and curved walls 3l to provide a compartment for storing dishes,knives and forks, and the like between meals. The doors are hinged and are provided on their faces with curved braces 32.

The vertical shaft 16 is journaled, as before stated, on the table-top, and is adapted to rotate, and it carries with it the disk-sections to enable dishes carried by the latter to be readily brought at any side of the table, as will be readily understood.

When the space between the table-top and the adjacent disk-section is employed as a compartment, the doors and the walls rest upon the upper face of the table-top, and the shaft is thereby prevented from rotating; but when it is desired to rotate the disk-sections the shaft is raised to cause the curved walls and the doors to clear the table-top. This is accomplished by means of a horizontal lever 34 and upper and lower wedges 35 and 36. The upper wedge is provided with a socket and has the lower end of the shaft stepped in it, and the lower Wedge is secured to and carried by the lever 34, which is fulcrumed on one of the side pieces of the tabletop, and which is adapted to be moved to slide the lower wedge on the upper one to raise and lower the shaft. One of the ends of the lever 34 is reduced and is pivoted in a slot or recess of the adjacent side piece of the table-top, and its other end 37 is reduced, shaped into a h-andle, and is located in a slot 38 of one of the side pieces. The slot limits the movement of the lever and permits the same to be swung sufficiently to lift the doors and the curved walls clear of the table-top, .and to return them to the same.

It will be seen that the self-waiting table is adapted to be readily taken apart and quickly assembled to facilitate storing and shipping, and that simple and effective means are provided for raising and lowering the upper rotary portion, for holding the latter stationary, and for permitting the same to revolve.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the 'minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this ininvention.

What we claim is- The combination of a table-top having' an opening, a vertical shaft passing through the opening and having a limited vertical movement, an upper rotary dish-receiving portion mounted on the shaft and adapted to be raised and lowered by the shaft to rest it upon and free it from the table-top, side rails supporting the table-top, one of the side rails being provided with a slot, a horizontally-disposed lever 34 having one end arranged in said slot and capable of a limited swing, the other end of the lever being fulerumed on the opposite side rail, the lower wedge 3G securedto the upper face of the lever, and the removable upper wedge loosely arranged on the lower wedge and provided at its upper face with a socket and receiving the lower end of the vertical shaft and retained in position by the latter, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto afliXed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM D. VIA. MALVERN V. STEDMAN.

Vitnesses:

FRED. H. DARLINGTON, W. E. LEwIs. 

